To widen visitors’ experiences, the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) is offering drawing and photography classes at its Engine House in Highley.

Throughout the year, the SVR will be collaborating with local experts to provide a range of creative experiences.

Starting on Saturday, 14th May, Foundry Artists from Bewdley will host a workshop where participants can gain key sketching skills, as well as tips and tricks to inspire them to find their style and confidence.

The workshops are suitable for all experience levels, and each one is self-contained. As part of their workshop package, each participant will be provided with a Freedom of the Line day ticket to use across the line before and after their session.

For those who prefer to capture landscapes on film, Lee Chapman from Chappers Photography will be hosting two workshops for people of all backgrounds and experience levels. These will be ideal for both railway fans and photographers who are keen to learn the ins and outs of their cameras.

The courses last a full day, with the first course which will explore the basics of good photography taking place on Sunday, 15th May at The Engine House in Highley.

On Sunday, 19th June, a more advanced course will teach key skills on landscape and location whilst travelling on the 16-mile line. For this session, participants will travel to Arley to photograph the beautiful country station along with its staff and surrounding environment.

The workshop sessions include a Freedom of the Line ticket for unlimited travel throughout the day, and can be booked online at svr.co.uk alongside tickets for the Spring Diesel Festival, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee ,and standard day tickets.

The sketching and photography workshops join a variety of additional, new experiences in the railway’s calendar, including soap-making with Severn Soaps, walking tours of Bewdley, and visits to Arley Arboretum.

Michael Dunn, head of visitor experience at the Severn Valley Railway, celebrated the new partnerships:

“From a creative perspective, the SVR has so much to offer – incredible landscapes and dramatic industrial scenes. We’re excited to be offering this new experience to passengers, inspired by the best things that Shropshire and Worcestershire have to offer.

“We’re thrilled to be working with two locally-based creative companies and are keen to expand our partnerships.”

Hilary Baker from Foundry Artists said:

“Basing this series of workshops at the SVR gives us a new opportunity to work within a varied and attractive setting. The SVR promises a truly unique selection of stand-alone sessions in a landscape that has inspired generations of artists.

“Whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced artist, these sessions will help you continue with your artistic journey, quite literally on a railway!”